Steamships today marked a significant milestone in its long-term commitment to Bougainville with the groundbreaking ceremony for its new corporate office and accommodation facility in Toniva, Central Bougainville.
The new single-storey modular office and accommodation facility will re-establish Steamships’ permanent presence in Bougainville, providing a local base to support its investment pipeline, develop sustainable partnerships with the people of Bougainville and maintain ongoing engagement with key stakeholders. Construction is expected to be completed by December 2026.
The development follows a memorandum of understanding signed between the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and Steamships in May 2026, establishing a framework for collaboration on land management, community governance and economic development in Bougainville.
Steamships Managing Director Chris Daniells said the project reflects the company’s confidence in Bougainville’s future and the strong relationships built since 2022 through ongoing engagement, consultation and collaboration with traditional land custodians and the ABG.
“I thank the traditional land custodians and the ABG for their trust, partnership and commitment throughout this process. Today’s groundbreaking is an important milestone that reflects the strong foundation we have built together through engagement, consultation, collaboration and a shared vision for Bougainville’s future. It marks the start of the next phase as we continue working together to support sustainable development, attract investment and create long-term economic opportunities for the people of Bougainville.”
Toniva was selected for its strategic location within North Nasioi, Central Bougainville. The area is earmarked to become a future economic corridor, with strong potential to support the revival of commercial, logistics and light industrial activities.
Steamships currently holds title to 19 properties in the Toniva area, acquired before the Bougainville Crisis. The company views the development as an important step towards supporting future investment and economic activity in the region.
